[seldom_seen]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'S')tephen Hawking says humans must go into space

[grabby]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MonteQuest', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('NeoPeasant', 'W')asn't this one of JD's big things? Sending a few dozen colonists into space might in theory preserve the human race from eventual extinction, just as a few dozen tigers in zoos may preserve tigers from extinction.

[mfire]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TITAN', 'Y')ou actually believe humans are the ONLY intelligent life in the ENTIRE UNIVERSE? That's both arrogant AND naive... I would bet my life on the fact that we are definitely NOT alone...

[zoidberg]

Whats the hurry? Space exploration requires technologies we cant make or probably even imagine. We also have a grand project of designing an indefinite technologically advanced civilization. We may very well end up trying a few times to get it right(although the first time with fossil fuels will probably be the most explosive attempt)

Once we got living on earth down pat and energy production in line with the population and standards of living then we can use that stable base to start designing and testing interplanetary freighters and passenger ships. That may take a very long time, or it may be quick but slow to transport people and materials around with the ships. (which may be small due to hard radiation hazards in the outer space).

To sum up,
We can do it, but we have to let go of our unnecessary sense of urgency and do what needs to be done first.

Step 1:
Arm your country to the teeth, hoard essential resources and ride out the downward spiral as the world learns to confront billions of years of evolution with conscious decisions. (Or die trying)

Short term doomer, long term cornucopian.

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MonteQuest', '
')A few dozen of anything is a tenuous attempt at preventing extinction. Over generations of inbreeding, a gene pool this small of any animal becomes predisposed to genetic defects.

It's called biological extinction.

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jellric', 'U')nfortunately the space program will likely become one of the first casualties of PO.

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('seldom_seen', ' ')The unfortunate few blasted in to space would be dead in no time.

[grabby]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('EnergyUnlimited', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('seldom_seen', ' ')The unfortunate few blasted in to space would be dead in no time.

[DefiledEngine]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')You actually believe humans are the ONLY intelligent life in the ENTIRE UNIVERSE? That's both arrogant AND naive... I would bet my life on the fact that we are definitely NOT alone...

[grabby]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('DefiledEngine', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')You actually believe humans are the ONLY intelligent life in the ENTIRE UNIVERSE? That's both arrogant AND naive... I would bet my life on the fact that we are definitely NOT alone...

[0mar]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('DefiledEngine', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')You actually believe humans are the ONLY intelligent life in the ENTIRE UNIVERSE? That's both arrogant AND naive... I would bet my life on the fact that we are definitely NOT alone...

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('grabby', '
')The human race is not going to survive by any idea it will ever come up with, it is about ready to run out of power in a few years.

But it won't be starvation that kills all on earth it will be one of three things or all three:
1. Nukes
2. Irreversibly mutating our food supply.
3. Mutated disease that is unstoppable.

Can't say which, but you'll probably see for yourself.
As for space:
We need about 100 miles of air between us and space radiation, no one would survive a trip to any star.

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('grabby', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('EnergyUnlimited', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('seldom_seen', ' ')The unfortunate few blasted in to space would be dead in no time.

[MonteQuest]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('EnergyUnlimited', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MonteQuest', '
')A few dozen of anything is a tenuous attempt at preventing extinction. Over generations of inbreeding, a gene pool this small of any animal becomes predisposed to genetic defects.

It's called biological extinction.

[Anthrobus]

That the universe seems to be silent does indicate that there is at least no technical advanced civilisation that produces detectable radiation while thriving for a long time 8lets say a million years). Thay obviously have peak something too.

Instead of going into space i propose to bury groups of people (to be woken up later) in time capsules in various places of the earth.

Anthrobus

[Dukat_Reloaded]

Instead of space, we should move under the sea. 78% of the earth is covered with water, that give the human population lots more room to grow and expand.

[EnergyUnlimited]

MonteQuest,
Not necessarily so ignorant.
I am not talking about simple "repair" of acquired deffects.
It would rather rely on advanced understanding of genome work and on INTRODUCING some genes from population left on the Earth into an offspring of those, who have left (samples of those genes would be taken with peoples who leave).
This would create artificial diversity within the offspring of those few.
It could require genetic engeneering of dosen of generations in the new world, but much of genetic diversity of humankind would be preserved.
Eventually sufficiently large and self sustaining population would result and no more genetic fiddling would be needed.

Civilization capable of interstellar travel is ought to acquire mentioned genetic technology as well (it would rather be easier, than space travel itself).

[arretium]

So what is the brane world scenario?


I googled it and read enough to realize I needed someone to help explain it to me. Anyone know anything about this topic that can provide information in layman's terms?

[untothislast]

Bart's robot friend has taken leave of his senses.

We OWE it to the rest of the universe, not to export our addled and exploitative value system away from the planet which gave it birth. It needs to die here.

Otherwise, it's called metastasis.

[Battle_Scarred_Galactico]

2. In the past we had only burning of wood as a power source (and even earlier no power source other than food at all) and there was no extinction.

Yes, exactly right. And if you want to avoid extinction, or have any resources left for high levels of technology, then this is the level population and energy use must return to.